TheCable

The federal government has announced a partnership with the UK, Niger and France to tackle cross-border crimes.

This is according to a statement made available on the federal government’s Twitter handle on Tuesday.

Abdulrahman Dambazau, minister of interior, said the partnership was proposed during a meeting of the four countries at the regional conference on anti-human trafficking/smuggling of migrants, which held in Niamey, Niger.

Dambazau said the partnership was initiated by the British government and France to strengthen collaboration with Nigeria and Niger Republic in the area of border management, intelligence sharing and legal cooperation.

Minister of Interior @abellodam, today, said that the proposal was a fallout of a sideline meeting of the four countries at the Regional Conference on Anti-human Trafficking/Smuggling of Migrants held in Niamey, Niger Republic on June 18 & 19, 2018. #GovtAtWorkNG

— Government of Nigeria (@NigeriaGov) August 28, 2018

Minister @abellodam said the partnership was initiated by the @GOVUK and France to strengthen collaboration with Nigeria and Niger Republic in the area of border management, intelligence sharing and legal cooperation. #GovtAtWorkNG

— Government of Nigeria (@NigeriaGov) August 28, 2018

According to the minister, the goals of the new arrangement will be achieved between 12 to 36 months.

The partnership, he said, will strengthen cooperation among security agencies of the four countries in combating human trafficking, drugs peddling, illicit arms proliferation and terrorism.

President Muhammadu Buhari had in July led a delegation comprising governors and ministers to the joint Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)/Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) summit in Lome, Togo.

The summit was held to deliberate on and forge “concerted strategies” in tackling terrorism, trans-border crimes and other forms of violent extremism.